Haley was blinded in his left eye as a child due to a botched operation. According to biographer John Swenson, Haley later adopted his distinctive spit-curl hairstyle to distract attention from his blind eye. The spit-curl caught on as a 50's style signature, although Haley and others had worn the hairstyle much earlier.
In 1946, Haley joined his first professional group, a Pennsylvania-based western swing band called The Down Homers run by Kenny Roberts. It has often been reported in musical reference works that Haley's first professional recordings were made with the Down Homers on a pair of singles released in 1946 by Vogue Records. This was later debunked by Roberts and others, stating Haley had already left the group by the time the singles were made. In the early 2000s, however, a set of 1946 radio recordings by the Down Homers were discovered and Haley is definitely present as he is identified by name and sings a solo number "She Taught Me to Yodel"; these recordings were commercially released for the first time in 2006.
After gaining experience with the Down Homers, Haley set out on his own, forming several groups such as the Range Drifters and the Four Aces of Western Swing. With the Four Aces, he made a number of regionally successful country music singles in the late 1940s for Cowboy Records while working as a touring musician and later a radio DJ at WPWA. (Many of Haley's early recordings from this period would not be released until after his death.) After disbanding the Four Aces and briefly trying a solo career using the names Jack Haley and Johnny Clifton (as chronicled in the biography Sound and Glory), Haley formed a new group called The Saddlemen in either 1949 or 1950 (sources vary as to the exact year); this new group recorded for several labels, including one single for Atlantic Records, Haley's first exposure to a major national record company. In 1951, Haley was signed to Dave Miller's Philadelphia-based Holiday Records and began to change musical styles, recording cover versions of "Rocket "88"" (previously recorded by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats), and in, 1952, "Rock the Joint", previously recorded by several bands including Jimmy Preston and His Prestonians. (By the time of "Rock the Joint", Haley had graduated from Holiday Records to Miller's larger Essex label.) The relative success of these recordings (both sold in the 75,000-100,000 copy range in the Pennsylvania-New England region) convinced Haley that his new and as-yet officially unnamed hybrid of country and rhythm and blues could be a commercial success.and some of his family lives in oklahoma and there is a road named after his family.
Rockin
Bill Haley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mistletoe hung where you can see, every couple tries to stop
Rockin' around the Christmas tree, let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we'll have some pumpkin pie and we'll do some caroling
You will get a sentimental feelin' when you hear
Voices singin' let's be jolly
Rockin' around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday
Everyone dancing merrily in the new, old-fashioned way
You will get a sentimental feelin' when you hear
Voices singin' let's be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rockin' around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday
Everyone dancing merrily in the new, old-fashioned way
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" is a classic holiday tune by Bill Haley & His Comets that invites listeners to celebrate the joyous spirit of Christmas. The song brings together the fun and excitement of Christmas parties, complete with dancing, delicious food, and mistletoe. The opening line sets the lively tone, instantly transporting the listener to a Christmas party filled with music and cheer. The mention of mistletoe creates an image of couples stealing kisses amidst the revelry. The song urges everyone to enjoy the festive atmosphere and let the Christmas spirit ring.
The second stanza speaks of more Christmas traditions, such as eating pumpkin pie and singing carols, further highlighting the joy and warmth of the holiday season. The lyrics are full of sentimentality as they evoke memories of joyous Christmases from the past. The song ends with an upbeat line, inviting everyone to celebrate the holiday in an old-fashioned yet playful way.
Line by Line Meaning
Rockin' around the Christmas tree, at the Christmas party hop
We are dancing and having a great time around the Christmas tree at the holiday party
Mistletoe hung where you can see, every couple tries to stop
Mistletoe is hung up and couples take advantage of the opportunity to share a kiss
Rockin' around the Christmas tree, let the Christmas spirit ring
We are enjoying ourselves and spreading the joy and cheer of the holidays
Later we'll have some pumpkin pie and we'll do some caroling
We will enjoy some delicious pumpkin pie and afterwards, we will sing Christmas carols together
You will get a sentimental feelin' when you hear
Hearing the sounds of the holiday season will evoke strong emotions and nostalgia within you
Voices singin' let's be jolly
People are singing festive songs to promote happiness and cheer
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
We are decorating our surroundings with holly branches to further embrace the Christmas spirit
Rockin' around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday
We are enjoying ourselves and wishing everyone a joyful and merry holiday season
Everyone dancing merrily in the new, old-fashioned way
People are happily dancing in a traditional holiday manner and enjoying themselves in the present moment
Lyrics © DistroKid, ST. NICHOLAS MUSIC INC., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Johnny Marks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@geoffbrookes4594
He really was The King. 🚂🚴♂️👣🇺🇦
@shirleyjennings5787
Awesome!
@aaronbecker5617
The song is so rad 😊
@Wolfhoundersful
If a body digs a body
Rockin' through the rye
If a body digs a body
Need a body cry
Every lassie digs a laddie
Nane, they say, ha'e I
Yet all the lassies rock with me
When rockin' through the rye
[2x:]
The Campbells are rocking
The blues away
There ain't no stopping it
Man, they're bopping it
Gang a wild, gang a wild
Go, man, go
A bonny wee lassie is on the beat
A bonny wee lassie is rocking reet
I'd be laddie it's a fitting
That I had it
Gang a wild
Let's go rockin' in the rye
Maxwelltown's braes are bonny
And the bluebells lost the blues
They were jumping in the heather
Like a knocked out feather
Hey, dig that crazy news, hoot!
[2x:]
The Campbells are rocking
The blues away
Man, let's give it up
Give it up, give it up
Gang a wild
Let's go rockin' in the rye
Maxwelltown's braes are bonny
And the bluebells lost the blues
They were jumping in the heather
Like a knocked out feather
Hey, dig that crazy news, hoot!
[2x:]
The Campbells are rocking
The blues away
Man, let's live it up
Live it up, live it up
Gang a wild
Let's go rockin' in the rye
[2x:]
Gang a wild
Let's go rockin' in the rye